Dust guard for bearings



Nov. 6, w23.

T. J. I ITLE, JR

DUST GUARD FOR BEARINGS Filed March 29. 19120 atto-r mzqs.

/TEE- Patented bien. 6, i923..

. enana THOMAS J'. LITLE,.J'R., OF DERGIT, MICHIGAN, ASGNt, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

` TO HAROLD H. EMFIONS, F DE'JItO'l, MICHIGAN.

DUST GUARD FOR BEABNGS.

Application led March 29, 1920.V Serial 110.3695525.

To allzu/7mm 1E/may concern.'

Be it known that l, THOMAS J. Lrrnn, J r., a citizen of the United States,land residing at Detroit, l/Vayne County, `State oi Michigan, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in| Dust Gua-rds ior Eearings, of which the following is a specication.

The object oi this invention is to provide a guard for preventing the entrance of dust, grit or chips into the joints between relatively rotatable machine parts. Theinven-' tion is particularly useiul'in maintaining the wearing surfaces of journal bearings tree from dirt, prolonging the lite of the bearing and preserving its accuracy of movement, but it may also be used in protecting the wearing surfaces of thrust bearings, and in other ways.

Legitimate wear on well oiled and well protected bearing surfaces takes place very slowly, but where foreign matter is allowed to penetrate to the bearing surface, wear and scoring proceeds rapidly, a small quantity et grit or dust being suiiicient to affect the operation of the bearing, and the general accuracy of the machine of which it forms a part, and continued use quickly ruining the same.

Certain machines are almost' constantly enveloped in dust when in operation, such as machines locatedrneary grinders in tactories, and motor vehicles travelling along roads. ln motor vehicles there is a particular need for dust guards for the exposed Y bearings, which not only are constantly surrounded by clouds of dust and grit, but which are diilicult to properly lubricate. The joint between the steering knuckle and steering connection rod is a good example of such an exposed joint and the improved dust guard will be illustrated and described in connection with such a joint, although it may be applied in different ways and to dir"- terent `forms oi" joints, as will be understood.

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a front elevation of a joint between the steering knuckle and steering connection of a motor vehicle, showing two of the dust guards, one being in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing two different modiiications of the dust guard applied thereto, portions of the joint and guards being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a playL view of one form of dust guard; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form. The joint illustrated comprises two relatively rotatable coaxial members 10 and l1, the former being yoke shaped and having an axle 12 extending between the arms of the at 1l', and between the inclined surfaces ot these bereiled portions and the adjacent plane surfaces ot member 10 are located the dust excluding rings 15, 15. These "rings are oi resilient material and so constructed they tend to contract and wedge into the annular groove between the members 10 and 1l and to fit tightly against the sides of the grooves, so that the joints between the two members -10 and l1 are sealed against the passage oi dust and grit which might ultimately penetrate to the bearing surfaces ot member 1l and axle 12 to injure the same. Beca-use of the contractile property of Vthe springs, any wear taking place therein or in the walls of the grooves is compensated for by the contraction of the ring, which never becomes loose but maintains a tight lit at all times.

rThe ends oic the ring may overlap, as illustrated in Figure i, or may be separated by a narrow gap as illustrated in Figure 3, and the ring may have any desired cross section. ln Figure 2' the lower ring is triangular in cross section while the upper ring is circular. ln Figure 2 also the upper ring is located between the iiat surface of member 10 and the annular inclined surface of a washer 16. The ring presses the washer tightly against the end or member 11 and at the same time prevents the entrance of dirt into the joint between member 10 and washer 16.

The rings are, ot course, applied while the joint is beingassembled and to replace one it is necessary to dis-assemble the joint, apply the ring and reassemble the parts. lt is irnpossible for a ring to become lost after it has been placed in position.

From the above description the construction and utility oi"- the invention will be apparent. rl`he bearing is provided, at small expense and little trouble with permanent dust guards preventing foreign matter from injuring the bearing surfaces. The guards.V

are I'it only'self adjusting in'the.- first in stance, but adjust themselves from time to time, as wear occurs in the joint, to maintain a dust tight t with its members. Obviously, the invention may be embodied in various Vforms and I do not, therefore, limit myselfto 'the exact form shown and described. n 1

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byvLetters Patent is: l

ylr.V In r,a motor vehicle, the combination with two connected chassis members supported for limited relative rotationL about a common axis, one ofl said members having any annular surface facing toward the other member and inclined relatively to the adjacent surface of said other member, said surfaces forming the. sidewalls of an outwardlywfacing circular groove between said members ,and a contractile ring in said groove and bearing by its own resilience on the opposed surfaces of said member to prevent vthe entrance of dirt into the joint between said members. A.

2. In al motor vehicle, the combination with ,two connected chassis members supported for limited relative rotation about a coinmonaxis,y one of saidlmembers having an annular .surface facing toward the other member. and inclinedI relatively to the adjacent. Surface of saidother member, said surfacesforming the sidewalls of an outwardly facing circular groovebetween said mem bers,-andfa contractile ring ofmcircular cross section ,in said groove and bearing by its ownresilience on thepopposed. surfaces of saidmembers with each of which itmakes tranceof dirt into the members,

Y3. lIn a motor vehicle, the combination with two connected chassis members slip-v ported forlimited relative rotation and hav- Ving a circular groove between them and dust excludingV meansl for said groove including.'

amember lying in the groove and lprovided with an annular surface inclined to the op positely facing surface of one of saidmembers, and a contractile ring bearing against each of Vsaid oppositely facing and relatively inclined surfaces. e y Y 4. In a motor vehicle steering mechanism, the combination with the steering knuckle and connecting rod supported for vlimited relative rotation about a common axis 'and having a circular groove between them, and dust excluding means for said groove including two elements. lying within the groove, one element having a surface inthe combination with the interconnected steering knuckle and connecting rod members relatively rotatable about a common axis Vand having a circular groove between them, of dust excluding means for said groove including two elements lying within the groove, one 'of which is a contractile ring bearing by its own resilience against'one of said members and against said other element.

In testimony whereof Iaiiix my signature.

THOMAS J. LirLn JR. 

